Jimmy Rogers has moved to the sidelines as a graduate assistant after a sucessful playing career with the South Dakota State University football team.

In joining the Jackrabbit coaching staff in 2010, Rogers worked with a deep and talented corps of linebackers. He helped mentor the team's top two tacklers in first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree Derek Domino (103 tackles) and honorable mention all-MVFC selection Mike Lien (98 tackles). The team's third starting linebacker, Dirk Kool, tied for the team lead with three sacks.

Rogers began his playing career as a defensive back, but switched to linebacker midway through his redshirt freshman season in 2006. He led the Jackrabbits in tackles during both the 2007 and 2008 seasons with 110 and 93 stops, respectively, and finished his four-year career with 312 total tackles. Prior to the start of the 2011 season he was selected as a member of the Coughlin-Alumni Stadium All-Time Team.

A native of Chandler, Ariz., Rogers was named to the all-Great West Football Conference First Team as the Jackrabbits won the league title in 2007, and was a second-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree in 2008. He closed his career in 2009 by receiving honorable mention all-MVFC recognition.

Rogers, who graduated with a degree in history, was named to the GWFC All-Academic Team in 2007 and was an honorable mention selection to the MVFC All-Academic Team in 2009. He also was a recipient of the MVFC Academic Excellence Award. He is pursuing a master's degree in sports pedagogy.